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Post by tbird on May 2, 2015 16:12:53 GMT -5
so - I've had my lettuce containers outside, or in the back porch, starts and herb and indoor cukes in the kitchen because that was warmest...
went up to 81 today - so - indoor cukes went into the porch - which was warmer than outside. Lettuces came into the kitchen from both porch and outside which were now too hot, and the starts and herbs went outside....
I felt like I was playing musical chairs by myself.....but I'm not sure if I was winning.... or losing....
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Post by Mumsey on May 2, 2015 17:06:31 GMT -5
By the looks of our 10 day forecast I am thinking I should go ahead and plant the maters outside. Even if it gets cold they will be protected by their little milk jug greenhouses. I am so ready to get this stuff out of the house. 100+ of the maters go to Dad, he won't be covering his with jugs, too time intensive unless I go to the recycle bin and get the jugs and cut them all out for him...might think about that for my next day off.
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Post by binnylou on May 2, 2015 17:10:37 GMT -5
Those milk jug covers are so worth the time and effort. Using them almost 100 % guarantees success and protection from the elements. ...but then, you know that already.
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Post by desertwoman on May 2, 2015 17:29:33 GMT -5
I think we are all ready to get this stuff out of the house and in to the soil.
I am tired of schlepping them back and forth. But realistically I have about 4 weeks to go before I can be reasonably assured no more frosts.
There is invariably a one night dip that brings a frost late in May or early June. I've lost all my toms and chiles twice in past years because I got lulled by the long stretches of beautiful days and nights.
Never again. I wait until early June now.
Unless someone has an idea of how to protect 35 or so plants, without using individual covers. I just can't see myself using 35 milk jugs.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 2, 2015 18:18:13 GMT -5
I have taken rope, tied it to one of the handles and then slide through the rest of the handles and then put a knot in the other end or tie on a hook and hang them in the garage.
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Post by brownrexx on May 2, 2015 18:18:14 GMT -5
I am also sick of taking 5 trays of plants to the front porch every morning and then back inside in the evening. I have 2 tomato plants that are quite large because I started them 2 weeks ahead of the others. I am strongly considering planting them in the garden tomorrow. They are too big for milk jug protection but if we get a cold night I can cover them.
The rest of them will start staying out on the porch overnight starting tomorrow night. The porch is open in the front but has side walls and a roof so it is protected from the elements but it's still outside for them.
If the weather predictions are correct it should not drop below 50 for the next 10 days. I hope they are right. |
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Post by OregonRed on May 3, 2015 8:39:21 GMT -5
I don't drink milk, hmmm... maybe i'll ask my neighbor.
Do you use gallon size?
this year I'm wondering if all my starts will get eaten by bugs,
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Post by brownrexx on May 3, 2015 9:15:55 GMT -5
Yes, gallons. Lots of other things other than milk come in gallon jugs though. Iced tea, water, juice, etc.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 3, 2015 9:57:09 GMT -5
Yes, I use gallon size, but almost all of mine are water jugs. And I will save them if they do not deteriorate through the season. Just hang them back up in the garage.
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Post by Mumsey on May 3, 2015 16:25:23 GMT -5
If I run out of them, I go to the city recycle bins and salvage them. When I'm done with them, they go right back there. I also get my newspapers from there. 35 is not a huge number, and they are only temporary decorations in the garden! But so worth the effort. I have never lost a single plant using jugs, and I never harden off anything. We save them starting in December and like Pea said, string them on a rope and hang in garage. Or you can cut the bottoms out and 4 inch circle in top and they can stack. Or you can put them on rope once cut. Mulch pulled up around the outside of them provides some extra insulation and a handful of grass inside the jug on cold nights protects as well. Just have to remember to remove it if the next day is sunny. Don't want those babies cooking!
I have to do things when I have time, and the time is sometimes not right, so the milk jugs are my savior. I plan to put plants out this week.
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Post by datgirl on May 3, 2015 16:43:59 GMT -5
I haven't even started to take them outside. They are all still up in the extra bedroom. I'm like DW, I wait till June because I have lost plants to a late frost and I just don't have the time in the mornings to be covering or uncovering 40 something tomato plants and 20 something peppers. I wish I did because I probably would.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 3, 2015 18:23:25 GMT -5
I don't cover and uncover them...I leave the jug in place. I've never "cooked" them. But I do water them frequently.
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Post by brownrexx on May 3, 2015 18:46:30 GMT -5
Leaving the cap off should prevent cooking them.
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Post by Mumsey on May 4, 2015 3:22:30 GMT -5
I don't take the entire jug off. Just whatever I have covered it with. I cut a hole around the cap and remove it for added ventilation.
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Post by brownrexx on May 4, 2015 7:32:41 GMT -5
I planted my first tomato in the garden yesterday!
It is inside of a tomato cage and I will wrap it with clear plastic if it gets cold and I need to protect it. My cages are big so I can also put a couple of jugs of warm water inside the cage for overnight if I need to.
Based on the historical data that I looked at on Weather Underground, there is a least one night at about 32 degrees between now and May 15. |
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